Lietse (4)
列禦寇(四)
1 Cao Shang was a citizen of the State of Song. King Song dispatched him to the State of Qin as messenger. In order to strengthen his vigor, King Song granted some attendants and wealth (equal to several carriages of rice) to him for use on the way.
曹商是宋國人。宋王派他到秦國出差，為了壯他陣容，宋王派了一些隨從以及相當幾車米的財物，供其旅途花用。
宋人有曹商者，為宋王使秦。
2 Cao Shang was smart and agile. He completed his task assigned by King Song smoothly and the king of Qin also felt contented to him. In the eve of leaving Qin, the king of Qin bestowed wealth (equal to one hundred carriages of rice) on him. He in glory came back.
曹商聰明伶俐，宋王交待的事他辦的很妥當，秦王也滿意。臨行秦王送給他相當一百車米的財物，曹商風風光光地回到宋國。
其往也，得車數乘；王說之，益車百乘。
3 Someday, Cao Shang met Chuang Tzu. He boasted complacently, “You are so great! You live on knitting straw shoes, leading a destitute life. Living in slum, you are thin and hungry but you still enjoy the life. Your practice is better than mine. However, I moved the king of great power and am honored to be bestowed a lot of wealth, which is my ability and worth showing off.”
有一天曹商遇到莊子，他志得意滿地吹牛說：「你莊子真了不起，依靠編織草鞋維持艱困的生計，住在貧民窟裡，面黃肌瘦，可是你仍然不改其樂。你這種修養是我曹商不及的地方。可是一朝感動萬乘之君，賞賜百車大米的財物，則是我曹商值得炫耀的本事。」
反於宋，見莊子，曰：「夫處窮閭阨巷，困窘織屨，槁項黃馘者，商之所短也；一悟萬乘之主而從車百乘者，商之所長也。」
4 Seeing his mean and complacent look, Chuang Tzu felt sullen. He decided to depress him. What make you meet me? Taking a look at him, Chuang Tzu said, “I hear that there are several ranks of reward for doctor who treats the king of Qin. He who can cure sore is rewarded money equal to one carriage of rice; he who can lick hemorrhoids to relieve his pain is rewarded money equal to five carriages of rice. The humbler method is, the more his reward is. For example, he who can taste stool to diagnose the illness is rewarded the largest amount of money. You must have cured the king of Qin’s hemorrhoids. You therefore are rewarded so much money. No wander I smell the stink. Get away! You blasted idiot.”
莊子看曹商一副小人得志的樣子，一肚子不高興。心想今天算你倒楣，我得好好地挫挫你的銳氣。莊子看了看曹商，對他說：「我聽說，秦王請醫生治病，酬勞分好幾個等級。治毒瘡，能使其潰散者，給一車大米的錢; 肯用舌頭舐痔瘡，使疼痛稍減者，得五車大米的酬勞; 醫治手段愈是卑下，比如，肯嚐大便以測健康狀況者，得的酬勞最多。你是不是將秦王的痔瘡治好？所以，一下子得了那麼厚重的報償。難怪我聞到一股惡臭呢！你還是早點滾吧！」
莊子曰：「秦王有病召醫，破癰潰痤者得車一乘，舐痔者得車五乘，所治愈下，得車愈多。子豈治其痔邪？何得車之多也？子行矣！」